Microsoft to Windows Phone users: Download the old YouTube app while we work with Google to update the new one

On Thursday, Microsoft released an updated version of its recent YouTube app for Windows Phone, after Google had complained that the app was violating YouTube’s terms of service.

Today, Microsoft has pulled that updated version, which had addressed some of Google’s concerns, telling users to instead download its old YouTube app while it works with Google to create an updated app that complies with all of Google’s requirements.

“Microsoft and YouTube are working together to update the new YouTube for Windows Phone app to enable compliance with YouTube’s API terms of service, including enabling ads, in the coming weeks,” the two companies said in a statement. “Microsoft will replace the existing YouTube app in Windows Phone Store with the previous version during this time.”

Though the current app is being removed from the Windows Phone Store, it will still work on Windows Phones for those who’ve already installed it.

The whole saga came about this way:

On May 7, Microsoft had released a new version of its YouTube app for Windows Phone.

Then last week, Google sent a letter to Microsoft demanding that the app be taken down, saying it violates YouTube’s terms of service. Among the violations Google cited by were that the app allowed users to download videos from YouTube, prevented the display of ads in YouTube video playbacks and played videos that have been restricted from playback on certain platforms.

Google had demanded that Microsoft remove the app from the Windows Phone Store and disable existing downloads of the app by Wednesday.

Microsoft had responded by saying, “Google has refused to work with us to develop an app on par with other platforms. … We’d be more than happy to include advertising but need Google to provide us access to the necessary APIs.”

Without Google’s help, Microsoft had attempted to address some of the concerns, creating an update that no longer allowed downloads and that filtered out restricted-playback videos. But the updated app still did not display ads.

Now it looks like the two companies are finally working together to create a Windows Phone YouTube app.

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Welcome to Microsoft Pri0: That's Microspeak for top priority, and that's the news and observations you'll find here from Seattle Times technology reporter Matt Day. Send tips or comments to mday@seattletimes.com.